A tribute to survival skills

Lynryd Skynyrd soldiers on despite hardships

Lynryd Skynyrd soldiers on despite hardships

June 04, 2006|TOM CONWAY Tribune Correspondent

As anyone who saw their episode on "Behind the Music" knows, Lynyrd Skynyrd has suffered tragedies of Shakespearean proportions. Beginning with the 1977 plane crash that claimed the lives of singer Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Steve Gaines among others, the Southern rock 'n' roll band also has had to endure the deaths of guitarist Allen Collins in 1990 and bassist Leon Wilkeson in 2001. That all made it a bit alarming when guitarist Rickey Medlocke answered the phone in his hotel room in California a few weeks ago for a scheduled interview, saying, "Can you call me back? (Singer) Johnny (Van Zant) had an emergency appendectomy yesterday, and we are all going home today." With death and illness constantly trailing the band, some have speculated that the post-crash Lynyrd Skynyrd is cursed. Could it be true? When Medlocke resumes the interview later in the day, he says Van Zant is fine, and other than a few canceled concerts, the band will soldier on. "Johnny ended up having throat surgery last year," he says. "All of a sudden he is back in surgery this year for his appendix. We are the all-scar band, I guess." It is with that indomitable spirit that Lynyrd Skynyrd carries on. In addition to Medlocke and Van Zant, the current group consists of original members guitarist Gary Rossington and keyboardist Billy Powell, and bass player Ean Evans, drummer Michael Cartellone and guitarist Hughie Thomasson, formerly of The Outlaws. Medlocke was originally in the band, as a drummer, from 1971 to 1973, and did a record with them that wasn't released until after the plane crash, "Lynyrd Skynyrd's First And ... Last," before leaving to form the successful Southern rock band Blackfoot ("Train, Train," "Highway Song"). In 1996, Medlocke received a phone call from Rossington, who asked him to play "I Ain't the One," "Saturday Night (Special)," "That Smell" and "Free Bird." Rossington said, " 'If you pass the audition, I'll give you $1.50, a Snicker's bar, and I'll put you back in the band,' " Medlocke says of the offer to rejoin the band. Medlocke says that he had no misgivings about becoming a supporting player in Lynyrd Skynyrd after being in the spotlight with his own band. "My daddy always used to tell me, 'You'll never get to be the driver of the Cadillac unless you can ride in the back,' " he says. "You know what? I got in the back seat of the Cadillac, and here we are." There are some detractors who regard the current lineup of Lynyrd Skynyrd as a tribute to the band but not the real thing. "Here's the deal with that," Medlocke says. "You've got Gary, who was there. You've got Billy, who was there. And Johnny is the youngest brother of Ronnie. I was with the original band. We have enough people in here that (were) connected either with, or was with, the original band that we don't feel that it is a tribute. We (pay) tribute to the music, but I don't consider it a tribute band. I consider this as being Lynyrd Skynyrd." In March, after six unsuccessful attempts, Lynyrd Skynyrd was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; finally recognizing the far-reaching impact the band has had on rock and country music. "I think that it had been a long time coming," Medlocke says. "I am especially happy that Ronnie was recognized. Ronnie, Gary and Allen got their due along with Leon, Billy and Steve Gaines. I think it was about time. I'm happy for the guys." Medlocke says that, curse or no curse, he believes Lynyrd Skynyrd will continue for many years to come. "I'll probably be doing this for as long as I can," he says. "Hopefully, I won't be like Keith Richards and fall out of a palm tree and have to have brain surgery or something. As far as Lynyrd Skynyrd goes, we will go as long as we can. As long as the fans love it and continue to come and enjoy the music, the band will be there."